Authority to Extend the United States-Republic of Korea Nuclear Cooperation Agreement

Floor Speech

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2449, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I'd like to begin by thanking my good friend, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Ed Royce, and the ranking member, Eliot Engel, for their work on this bipartisan legislation.

The current U.S.-South Korea civil nuclear cooperation agreement, also known as a ``123 agreement,'' allows the U.S. and South Korea to work together on peaceful uses of nuclear energy. That agreement is set to expire next year. Because our two countries have not yet completed negotiations for a new agreement, H.R. 2449 allows a 2-year extension of the existing agreement to provide more time for the two sides to come to an agreement.

An extension would help ensure that there's no lapse in our ongoing civil nuclear cooperation, preserving stability and predictability in our joint commercial activities. South Korea is a vital economic and security partner of the United States, and passing this bill would help ensure that we maintain the strongest possible relationship with our trusted ally.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2449 enjoys wide bipartisan support. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Source